F.X. Matt fire still burning

The fire at the canning and bottling plant of F.X. Matt Brewery continues to burn and won't be declared under control for hours, Utica city officials said.
"There are still some hot spots and they're dousing them as they go," said Dan LaBella, the city's public safety commissioner.
LaBella said it's too early to tell how much damage was done to the canning and bottling operations in the four-story brick building. No one has gone into the building yet to assess the damage, he said.
"There are some severe cracks in the building that are of concern," he said.
The fire did not spread into the adjacent brew house, where beer is produced, LaBella said.
The bottling building sits next to the finish line and post-race party area for the 15K Boilermaker Road Race, scheduled this year for July 13. Angelo Roefaro, assistant to Utica Mayor David Roefaro, said it's too early to know what effect, if any, the fire will have on the race, which draws thousands of Central New Yorkers each year.
Fred Matt, one of the owners of the 120-year-old family business, said Thursday it appeared the fire started in a machine that makes plastic rings that holds together six packs.